Hinamatsuri (Girl's Day or Dolls Day)

Hinamatsuri is celebrated each year on March 3. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian Period. 

The top tier holds two dolls, known as imperial dolls. These are the Emperor holding a ritual baton and Empress holding a fan. The second tier holds three court ladies. The third tier holds five male musicians. Each holds a musical instrument except the singer, who holds a fan. Two ministers may be displayed on the fourth tier. The fifth tier, between the plants, holds three helpers or samurai as the protectors of the Emperor and Empress. 

Families generally start to display the dolls in February and take them down immediately after the festival. Superstition says that leaving the dolls past March 4 will result in a late marriage for the daughter